Five questions with WKU beat reporter Chad Bishop

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers wide receiver Lucky Jackson (right) celebrates his touchdown with Hilltoppers wide receiver Taywan Taylor (left) in the end zone during the first half against Florida Atlantic Owls at FAU Football Stadium.(Photo: Steve Mitchell, Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)

It never hurts to get a different perspective or opinion on things, especially from the opposition. From now until the end of the 2016 season, I'll get with an opposing beat writer every week to pick their brains about Louisiana Tech's competition.

For this week's game, I reached out to Chad Bishop, who the Western Kentucky beat reporter at WBKO-TV in Bowling Green, Kentucky, to ask him five questions about the Hilltoppers leading up to Saturday's 11 a.m. kickoff. for the Conference USA championship game.

1. Western Kentucky is on a roll since the Louisiana Tech loss. What has been the driving force behind the 6-game win streak?

Defense, really. Jeff Brohm's offense will always put up points, and as long as it doesn't turn the ball over, can keep the pace with anyone. But defense is the driving force — as it was during the 2015 title run. Louisiana Tech ran over, through, and around WKU in October, but since then, Western has virtually shut down its opponents with the league's best run defense and second-best total defense.

2. WKU was without some key defensive starters against Louisiana Tech in October. How is the defense improved with them back?

Nick Holt's defense is not complex, but it does rely heavily on depth. The Hilltoppers have, arguably, the best trio of linebackers in the league in T.J. McCollum, Keith Brown and Joel Iyiegbuniwe — and McCollum did not play in the first meeting.

Western doesn't necessarily have a dominant pass rush. But it's good when defensive end Nick Dawson-Brents is completely healthy and wreaking havoc and when Holt can rotate as many linemen in and out of the game as possible. Tackles Chris Johnson and Omar Bryant have played exceptionally well, too.

The Tops have also allowed their inexperienced corners in Joe Brown and Leverick Johnson to grow and have given safety Juwan Gardner the opportunity to fill in for injured senior Marcus Ward. It all comes down to personnel and WKU's has grown into their roles as the season has progressed.

3. QB Mike White was only a month into his tenure the first time around. How comfortable is he now 13 games into in the season and what are the odds he bests his 5-TD performance from earlier in the year?

White had the advantage of coming into an amazing offensive system, playing behind one of the best offensive lines in the nation and using two of the better wide receivers in Conference USA. But it wasn't until the trip to Ruston (and the following week at Middle Tennessee) that he really came into his own.

White has done a tremendous job at finding second and third progressions, but also been solid at extending plays, throwing the ball away and not turning the ball over. Does he throw for five scores against the Tech defense? Probably not, mostly because of WKU's ability to be balanced. That doesn't mean it's not possible though.

4. Louisiana Tech converted on several deep shots in the first meeting. Has WKU improved in that area or is it still a concern?

I think it's still a concern. Western hasn't played a team as good as Louisiana Tech since Louisiana Tech — and that includes Old Dominion and Middle Tennessee, both of whom use the short passing game. Western knows it has to keep the ball in front of them Saturday. But that's easier said than done.

5. Has your opinion of this game changed any at all in the past week after Louisiana Tech lost to Southern Miss last week?

Yes, human nature certainly makes you strongly consider Tech's performance at USM. But I keep making myself remember how Tech had already won the West and how Southern was playing for its bowl lives. Motivation for the Bulldogs, I would expect, will be much higher this weekend than it was last.

Prediction: I took WKU 41-38 — the same score of the 2015 matchup in Bowling Green. The Hilltoppers are really, really tough to beat at home (16-2 under Brohm) and I'm not going to start betting against them now.